E-Chalk Technical Description

Abstract

E-Chalk is a software system for both classroom teaching and distance learning. Our philosophy is to provide a tool which enhances classroom teaching and provides distance education as a side effect, i. e. at no extra cost. E-Chalk is based on the blackboard metaphor, which has proven to be an ideal teaching tool since the Ancient Greeks. The software has been entirely written in Java, so that Internet listeners are not forced to install a plug-in to be able to access the lectures. This article provides an introduction to the ideas behind our approach, a basic overview of the features of the software system, and a technical description of E-Chalk.